NameCensus.

UK surname

Comer

An occupational surname for a person who combs wool or flax, or a topographic name for a valley.

In the 1881 census there were 769 people recorded with the Comer surname, ranking it #4,804 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,562, ranked #3,966, up from #4,804 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Mark, Chapel Allerton, Weare, East Brent, South Brent. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bath and North East Somerset, Liverpool and Taunton Deane.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Comer is 1,713 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 103.1%.

1881 census count

769

Ranked #4,804

Modern count

1,562

2016, ranked #3,966

Peak year

2002

1,713 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Comer had 769 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,804 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,562 in 2016, ranked #3,966.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,320 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Comer surname distribution map

The map shows where the Comer surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Comer surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Comer over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 537 #4,693
1861 historical 577 #4,568
1881 historical 769 #4,804
1891 historical 917 #4,507
1901 historical 1,081 #4,470
1911 historical 1,320 #3,614
1997 modern 1,622 #3,654
1998 modern 1,683 #3,666
1999 modern 1,681 #3,694
2000 modern 1,667 #3,699
2001 modern 1,646 #3,677
2002 modern 1,713 #3,633
2003 modern 1,640 #3,681
2004 modern 1,642 #3,683
2005 modern 1,622 #3,689
2006 modern 1,606 #3,722
2007 modern 1,626 #3,719
2008 modern 1,642 #3,714
2009 modern 1,669 #3,742
2010 modern 1,713 #3,730
2011 modern 1,660 #3,797
2012 modern 1,589 #3,870
2013 modern 1,598 #3,923
2014 modern 1,610 #3,918
2015 modern 1,580 #3,941
2016 modern 1,562 #3,966

Geography

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Where Comers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Mark, Chapel Allerton, Weare, East Brent, South Brent, Manchester and Ilfracombe. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bath and North East Somerset, Liverpool, Taunton Deane and Calderdale. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Mark, Chapel Allerton, Weare, East Brent, South Brent Somerset
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Ilfracombe Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bath and North East Somerset 023 Bath and North East Somerset
2 Liverpool 050 Liverpool
3 Taunton Deane 004 Taunton Deane
4 Liverpool 044 Liverpool
5 Calderdale 005 Calderdale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Comer

These lists show first names that appear often with the Comer surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Comer

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Comer, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Comer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Comer household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Comer is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Comer is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Comer falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Comer is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Comer, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Comer

The surname Comer is of English origin, derived from the Old French word "comere," meaning a godparent or a close friend of the family. It is believed to have originated in the 12th or 13th century.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Comer can be found in England's Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it appears as "le Comere." This spelling suggests that the name was initially an occupational one, referring to a person who served as a godparent or was a close friend of a family.

In the 14th century, the name Comer appeared in various forms, such as "Commere," "Cummere," and "Comere," reflecting the regional variations in spelling and pronunciation.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Comer was John Comer, who was mentioned in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire in 1317.

The Domesday Book, compiled in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Comer, as it primarily recorded landowners and their holdings. However, it is possible that the name's origins can be traced back to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, when many French words and names were introduced into the English language.

In the 16th century, the surname Comer was found in various parts of England, including Wiltshire, Somerset, and Devon. The Subsidy Rolls of 1524 for Somerset list a John Comer, indicating the presence of the name in that region.

The name Comer has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history, including:

1. William Comer (c. 1588-1663), an English lawyer and Member of Parliament for Hereford. 2. Thomas Comer (c. 1650-1697), an English theologian and author of several religious works. 3. George Comer (1742-1823), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War. 4. John Comer (1770-1825), an English architect known for his work on several churches in London. 5. Andrew Comer (1868-1937), an American businessman and philanthropist who founded the Avondale Mills textile company in Alabama.

While the surname Comer has its roots in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world through migration and immigration.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Comer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Comer surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Somerset leads with 160 Comers recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.20x.

County Total Index
Somerset 160 13.20x
Lancashire 133 1.49x
Devon 113 7.21x
Norfolk 69 5.96x
Yorkshire 48 0.64x
Middlesex 47 0.62x
Gloucestershire 28 1.90x
Staffordshire 24 0.94x
Surrey 22 0.60x
Cheshire 21 1.26x
Durham 19 0.85x
Essex 17 1.14x
Lincolnshire 12 1.00x
Glamorgan 9 0.69x
Warwickshire 8 0.42x
Kent 7 0.27x
Cornwall 6 0.70x
Brecknockshire 5 3.32x
Sussex 4 0.32x
Derbyshire 3 0.25x
Hampshire 3 0.19x
Isle of Man 2 1.43x
Worcestershire 2 0.20x
Berkshire 1 0.18x
Channel Islands 1 0.45x
Denbighshire 1 0.35x
Leicestershire 1 0.12x
Midlothian 1 0.10x
Northamptonshire 1 0.14x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.42x
Renfrewshire 1 0.17x
Royal Navy 1 1.11x
Wiltshire 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Combmartin in Devon leads with 34 Comers recorded in 1881 and an index of 1000.00x.

Place Total Index
Combmartin 34 1000.00x
Ilfracombe 28 173.48x
Halse 21 2019.23x
St Giles In Fields London 19 51.42x
Manchester 17 4.23x
Mark 17 600.71x
Heigham 15 24.14x
Timsbury 15 408.72x
Liverpool 14 2.58x
Wedmore 11 139.42x
Catton 10 515.46x
Little Bolton 10 8.70x
Prescot 10 61.88x
Ashton Under Lyne 9 4.61x
Charlton Horethorne 9 731.71x
Linthrope 9 638.30x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 8 5.75x
East Dereham 8 54.68x
Lydeard St Lawrence 8 588.24x
Toxteth Park 8 2.64x
West Derby 8 3.06x
Worsley 8 14.52x
Bilston 7 14.21x
Bishopwearmouth 7 3.64x
Blackburn 7 2.94x
Challacombe 7 1228.07x
Chipping Ongar 7 273.44x
Conisbrough 7 100.00x
Exford 7 593.22x
Frimley 7 66.99x
Lympsham 7 593.22x
Skirbeck 7 103.70x
Sowerby In Halifax 7 28.69x
Wells St Cuthbert Out 7 71.72x
Westminster St James 7 9.04x
Badgworth 6 833.33x
Birkenhead 6 4.53x
Gloucester St John Baptist 6 62.89x
Harpurhey 6 48.39x
Lambeth 6 0.91x
Preston 6 2.51x
Roughton 6 530.97x
Steeple 6 441.18x
Tranmere 6 9.82x
Wednesbury 6 9.44x
Wingate 6 39.06x
Witton Cum Twambrooks 6 40.54x
Aston 5 0.96x
Barnstaple 5 20.32x
Bishops Lydeard 5 161.81x
Everton 5 1.76x
Islington London 5 0.69x
Llangattock 5 40.75x
Middlesbrough 5 5.15x
Norwich St Martin At 5 255.10x
Paulton 5 90.09x
Sheffield 5 2.10x
Sherwill 5 471.70x
Swansea Town 5 4.65x
Weston Super Mare 5 16.33x
Clifton 4 5.36x
Colton 4 606.06x
Fulwood 4 41.41x
Honiton 4 46.14x
Langham 4 481.93x
Lynton 4 127.80x
Mile End Old Town London 4 2.50x
Newington 4 1.44x
Oldham 4 1.39x
Rudston 4 256.41x
St George In East London 4 5.65x
Stoke Upon Trent 4 1.48x
Withypoole 4 606.06x
Cawston 3 106.01x
Coventry St Michael 3 4.92x
East Tuddenham 3 256.41x
Kirkdale 3 2.00x
Limehouse London 3 3.63x
South Molton 3 34.84x
Westbury On Trym 3 6.00x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Comer surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Comer surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 57
William 44
James 31
Thomas 27
George 23
Henry 19
Charles 15
Michael 12
Edward 10
Robert 10
Joseph 8
Samuel 7
Alfred 6
Albert 5
Frederick 5
Patrick 5
Frank 4
Harry 4
Walter 4
Arthur 3
Chas. 3
Francis 3
Fred 3
Hugh 3
Isaac 3
Peter 3
Benjamin 2
Edmund 2
Eli 2
Elijah 2
Fredrick 2
Geo. 2
Job 2
Martain 2
Martin 2
Sidney 2
Tom 2
Alexander 1
Anthony 1
Arbrose 1
Bryan 1
C. 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.G. 1
Fredric 1
Levi 1
M) 1
Margaret 1
Wm.Arthur 1

FAQ

Comer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Comer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 769 people were recorded with the Comer surname. That placed it at #4,804 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Comer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,562 in 2016. That gives Comer a modern rank of #3,966.

What does the Comer surname mean?

An occupational surname for a person who combs wool or flax, or a topographic name for a valley.

What does the Comer map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Comer bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.